Auxiliary gravel and dirt levelling blade



July 11, 1961 J. RESLER AUXILIARY GRAVEL AND DIRT LEVELLING BLADE FiledSept. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John Res/er 1N VEN TOR.

July 11, 1961 J. RESLER AUXILIARY GRAVEL AND DIRT LEVELLING BLADE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1958 INVENTOR.

BY w Ammq:

r w e R m 0 J 2,991,570 AUXILIARY GRAVEL AND DIRT LEVELLWG BLADE JohnRosier, Willow City, N. Dak. Filed Sept. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 762,005 8Claims. (Cl. 37-143) The present invention relates to certain new anduseful improvements in a readily applicable and removable auxiliaryblade attachment for the main or patrol blade of a highway grader, forexample, a highway motor patrol grader.

More specifically, the concept has to do with a simple, practical andefficient attachment or device which is expressly designed andconstructed to effectually trap and temporarily retrieve gravel and dirtwhich is normally discharged at the outward end of a mobile patrol bladewhen the latter is being operated on a gravel or dirt surface. Briefiy,the invention is characterized by an auxiliary blade which deflects andgradually works the excess or overflow material back into the surface ofthe highway and levels it, whereby to thus eliminate mounds and ridgesof gravel or dirt usually not properly handled and therefore left overby the motor patrol or similar road grader. The construction is suchthat it not only retrieves and saves valuable road surfacing materialwhich usually works out toward the margins but avoids objectionable pileup in the ditch or gutter. The invention, therefore, functions to leveloff the overflow gravel and dirt and adequately smooths the surface sothat objectionable and dangerous piles, mounds and ridges of dirt areeliminated and the surface is satisfactorily readied for safe roadtravel by speedily driven motor vehicles.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention a constructionhas been evolved and produced which has many features and advantages.That is to say, the means which functions to operatively associate theauxiliary blade with the main blade is such that the overall device orattachment can be easily attached to any standard highway patrol bladenow in use for levelling gravel and dirt roads. The attachment can alsobe interchanged from one end of the main blade to the other and isintended for continuous use inasmuch as it may be hoisted to anout-of-the-way position when not needed and lowered for use whenever theexisting surface conditions require its use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structurally andeffectually reliable auxiliary blade and mounting means therefor whichis characterized by cooperating components which may be quickly andeasily assembled or dismantled into four major components or parts, thuspermitting the thus dismantled device to be carried in a pickup truck orautomobile trunk. The construction is also such that the auxiliary bladeitself is interchangeable with a blade equipped with harrow teeth set atabout three and one-half inches apart for the purpose of breaking upclods and lumps and working them into the surface of the road. As amatter of fact the construction allows for the utilization of rollers,packers, and the like.

Novelty is also predicated upon a readily adaptable attachmentcharacterized by the aforementioned auxiliary blade and wherein theconstruction is such that the blade is left free to follow the contoursof the roads surface. To this end the auxiliary blade is so poised andbalanced on its support means not only to enable it to have limitedpivotal movement and be adjustable to assume the de-' sired obliquity ofangularity relative to the cooperating outer end of the main blade butalso to balance the earth loads distributed along the auxiliary bladethereby reice 2 ducing stresses and bending forces on the blade andattachment parts.

Stated otherwise the invention has to do with an auxiliary blade adaptedto trap and retrieve excess gravel and dirt, deflect and re-distributeit on the highway surface and level it in a manner to eliminatedangerous mounds and ridges which are usually left at the outer end ofthe main blade comprising an elongated blade supporting, positioninghitching beam having means at its inward end hingedly connectible withsaid main blade, the outer end portion of said beam extending beyond theouter end of the main blade, means suspending a median portion of theauxiliary blade selected to permit said auxiliary blade to be disposedand sufficiently load balanced within the range of angular positions ofthe auxiliary blade relative to the main blade, and additional meansaffording an adjustable connection between said beam and the trailingend of said auxiliary blade. Other objects, features and advantages willbecome more readily apparent from the following description and theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the views: FIG. 1 is aperspective view showing the motor patrol or machine in phantom lines, aportion of the main or patrol blade in full lines and the auxiliaryblade and its attachment and supporting means in full line as Well as indotted or phantom lines which latter illustrate the out-of-theway orelevated position of the auxiliary blade.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the construction seen in FIG. 1. e

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the outer end of the beamor arm and the linkage means which is bracketed to the arm andoperatively joined to the median portion of a frame carried by theauxiliary blade; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of theline 44 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings the mobile machine or patrol grader isdenoted generally by the numeral 6. The main or patrol blade thereon isdenoted by the numeral 8 and it is, obviously, on this part that theimproved attachment is mounted and utilized. The auxiliary blade whichwhile shown at one end of the main blade may, of course, be mounted onthe opposite end (not shown). In any event the auxiliary blade isdenoted by the numeral 10 and carries an upstanding frame structureembodying frame members 12 suitably joined at 14 to the blade 10, bracedacross their upper ends by a rigidfying member 16 atop which is an angleiron or the like 18. As shown in FIG. 3 this angle iron is provided witha bored lug 20.

Before describing the articulating joint which is asso ciated with thelug 20 reference will now be made to the readily attachable anddetachable arm or beam 22. This beam is a horizontally elongatedstructure (which might also be called a boom) and may vary inparticularized construction. Here it is shown as comprising a pair ofspaced coplanar parallel angle irons 24 connected together at the lefthand end as at 26. This end portion is provided with a connecting andpivot bolt or hinge 29 (FIG. 4) which is hingedly mounted on an adapterfixture 28. This fixture comprises a flange or plate 30 joined by websor the like 32 to the rear or convex side of the main blade 8. The bolt29 is hinged or pivoted on the plate 30 and spacing or filler collars 34are mounted on the bolt 29 at opposite sides of the plate 30.

The outer ends of the angle irons are connected in part by a crosspiece(FIG. 3) 36 and if desired a bottom brace 38 (FIG. 1).

With reference now to FIG. 2 in particular, the numeral 40 designatesadjusting and connecting means he tween the auxiliary blade 19 and thebeam 22. This means may vary in construction. Practice has shown that anextensible and retractable stay or equivalent means will do. The meansshown comprises a suitable strap metal member 42 fixed at 44 to a medianportion of one of the angle irons 24. This member is disposed at anoblique angle and the bolt holes 46 therein are adapted to cooperateselectively with bolt holes 48 in a companion strap or member 50 toaccommodate the bolt 52 and to allow the ends to be overlapped andadjustably connected. The outer end of the member 50 is pivotally joinedto a U-shaped connector or clevis 54 carried by the upper corner portionat the left of the frame shown in FIG. 1.

The linkage or equivalent means which is employed to provide the desiredarticulating joint and connection between the auxiliary blades frame andthe outer end portion of the beam is seen in FIG. 3. First referencewill be made to the bracket or bracketing means. This comprises a pairof spaced suitably angled angle irons 56 welded or otherwise mountedatop the angle irons 24. The outward ends of the vertical flanges areprovided with upstanding ears S8 to accommodate an insertable andremovable bolt 60 which constitutes a limiting stop. The verticalflanges at the other end are apertured to accommodate an insertable andremovable pivoting or hinging bolt 62 which serves to connect the armsor limbs 64 and 66 thereto. The median portions of the arms extendbetween the stop or limiting bolt 60 and the adjacent underlying angleiron 24. This construction and arrangement provides for verticalswinging on a horizontal axis of the yoke 68. The outer end of the yokehas an extension 70 with a vertical bearing therein to accommodate ahinging and connecting pin or spindle 72 which serves to pivotally jointhe arm portions 74 of the clevis or fork 76 thereto. The stem 78 isprovided with a screw threaded extension which passes through a holeprovided therefor in the aforementioned lug 20, the same being held inplace by an assembling and clamping nut 80.

In FIG. 1 the numeral 82 designates a suitable flexible or spring socketto accommodate the staff 84 of a danger or warning flag 86.

It follows that the beam or arm 22 is detachably hinged to the adapterfixture 28. In practice another similar fixture may be provided at theother end of the main blade just in case it is desired to apply thisattachment to said other end. The hinging and bolting means 29 providesnot only a separable connection but the desired hinge joint between thefixture 28 and beam 22. The outer projecting end portion of the beamshown in FIG. 3 may rise and fall and may also be bodily lifted up to anout-of-the-way position by a hoisting cable 88 which may be reeled inany suitable manner on the grader 6 (not shown). The linkage means madeup of the yoke 68 and clevis 76 provide the desired articulating oruniversal joint between the outer end of the beam and the frame-equippedauxiliary blade 10. The point of connection provides for poised orbalanced suspension of the auxiliary blade from the beam resulting inthe necessary angling and freedom of motion of the auxiliary blade sothat it is left free to follow the contours of the road surface. Thestay means 40 provides an adjustable connection between the auxiliaryblade and the beam so that the blade may be suspended for use at anangle relative to the outer end of the main blade which is mostsatisfactory for the job under consideration.

While it is old in the art to appropriate and use auxiliary blades inconjunction with main blades I know of none having the particularconstruction herein shown nor which in any manner compare with theeflicient mechanical means which is used to attach the auxiliary bladeto the main blade.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A highway grader having a main blade, an auxiliary blade designed andadapted to trap and retrieve excess gravel and dirt, deflect andredistribute it on a highway surface and level it in a manner toeliminate dangerous mounds and ridges which are usually left at theouter end of the main blade, an elongated auxiliary blade supporting,positioning and hitching beam having means at an inward end thereofhingedly connectible with a top portion of said main blade, the outerend portion of said beam being disposed in a plane above the main bladeand extending beyond the outer end of said main blade, pivot meanssuspending a median portion of the auxiliary blade in balanced conditionfrom the outer end of said beam and permitting said auxiliary blade tobe located and operatively balanced in variable angular positionsrelative to the grading surface and end of said main blade, andadditional means providing and affording an adjustable connectionbetween a median portion of said beam and a trailing end portion of saidauxiliary blade, said first-named means embodying an articulatedjointing connection between the beam and the main blade which permitssaid auxiliary blade to have balanced freedom of motion and action andto conformingly follow and act on the deviating contours of the highwaysurface traversed thereby.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said additional meansembodies a stay, said stay being longitudinally adjustable by manualregulation, one end of said stay being rigidly secured to a medianportion of the beam, the other end of the stay having positive butselfadapting mechanical connection with a cooperating end portion ofsaid pivot suspending means.

3. For use on and in combination with the main blade of a road grader, abeam adapting and mounting fixture, said fixture being of one-piececonstruction and fixed to an end portion of a rear side of said mainblade and having a portion projecting to a plane above the top of themain blade, a straight rigid elongated beam having an outer end and aninward end connected by a horizontal pivot to the upper portion of saidfixture and permitting the beam to swing up and down in a vertical planewhen in use or to be bodily lifted to assume an out-of-the-way positionwhen not in use, said outer end of said beam extending beyond thecorresponding outer end of said main blade, an auxiliary gravel and dirtlevelling blade, suspension linkage means located at the outer end ofsaid beam for operatively connecting the beam with a median portion ofsaid auxiliary blade, the parts of said linkage means being rigid andincluding a first hinging joint providing a connection of the beam tothe linkage means and also a second vertical hinging joint connected tothe auxiliary blade to provide limited vertical movement through thefirst joint and limited horizontal movement by way of the verticalhinging joint, the auxiliary blade being thus free to functionallyfollow the ever varying contours of the highway surfaces over which itis poised and operatively dragged, said first joint embodying a yokehinged on the beam, and said second joint embodying a fork carried bythe auxiliary blade, said fork being pivotally connected to acooperating end of said yoke.

4. An attachment for a main grader blade comprising a one-piece adapterfixture adapted to be mounted atop an end portion of the main graderblade, an elongated beam having one end separably and hingedly connectedwith an upper portion of said fixture so that the beam may be permittedto rise and fall in a vertical plane during normal course of use or maybe wholly and bodily swung up to an out-o f-the-way position when notbeing used,

extensible and retractable stay means adapted to provide an adjustableconnection between said beam, said stay means being rigidly connected atits inner end to an intermediate portion of said beam and assuming anoblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the beam, a yokehaving an end thereof resting atop but hingedly mounted on an outer endportion of said beam, a fork-type clevis having a fork hingedly mountedon a cooperating end of said yoke, said clevis having a stern, anauxiliary grader blade, a frame carried by a medium upper portion ofsaid blade, and a separable swivel connection between said stern andsuspending means.

5. An auxiliary gravel and dirt levelling attachment for a main graderblade comprising an elongated auxiliary blade, uprights fixed at theirlower ends to end portions of said blade at longitudinally spaced pointsand at equidistant points from the respective ends of said blade andrising vertically above the upper edge of the blade and having a memberconnecting the upper ends and defining an inverted U-shaped suspendingand balancing frame, a fork-type clevis having a stem, means providing aswivel separable connection between said stern and a centralized portionof said frame, a yoke having arms, said yoke provided at one end with anextension, the arms of said fork straddling said extension and beingseparably and hingedly connected thereto by way of a vertical pivot pinand providing a hinging connection between the yoke and clevis, anelongated beam, means hingedly connected to an inner end of the beamwhereby said beam may be bracketed on an upper portion of a main graderblade, bracket means fixed atop an outer end portion of said beam andhaving spaced parallel upstanding flanges, the arms of said yoke beingconfined for operable movement between the flanges, means hingedlyconnecting free end portions of the yoke arms to corresponding endportions of said flanges.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 and wherein said 6 flanges areprovided with a stop limiting pin bridging the space between the flangesand overlying median portions of the yoke arms in a manner to limit theupward swinging movement of the yoke arms relative to the beam andflanges.

7. An auxiliary blade attachment for the main blade of a highway gradercomprising, auxiliary blade mounting means having a load balancing pointthereon, blade balancing suspension means hingedly connected tothe mainblade and projecting beyond one end of the main blade including meansfor operatively connecting said suspension means to said blade mountingmeans at said load balancing point on the blade mounting means, andadjustable connecting means operatively interconnecting said suspensionmeans to the blade mounting means independently of the operativeconnecting means at a point spaced from the load balancing point toposition the blade mounting means in balanced condition at a desiredangular position relative to the suspension means whereby stressing ofthe adjustable connecting means and bending of the auxiliary blade isreduced.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said operative connecting meansand adjustable connecting means include limited universal connections tothe blade mounting means for permitting limited pivotal movement of theauxiliary blade in response to earth loading irregularities.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,529,678 Webb May 17, 1925 1,956,385 Gipford Apr. 24, 1934 2,192,254Beadle Mar. 5, 1940 2,284,463 Wilson May 26, 1942 2,308,535 Paulsen Jan.19, 1943 2,647,331 Bruger Aug. 4, 1953

